Why Resolutions Fail

If your intention, or resolution, on January 1st was (or is) to lose weight by summer and you have yet to join a gym — or go, then that New Year’s Resolution was, or will be, a mere desire.

A resolution is a conscious decision to perform an action based on an intent surrounding a preconceived notion. More simply, a resolution can be defined as the act, or process of resolving, i.e.: to deal with successfully.

Since the object is to perform an action, for instance, “to lose ten pounds a month so I look good for summer (or my wedding or for my future girlfriend/boyfriend, or whatever the case may be).” But, if you think about it, the action has already been done. You made the resolution. The resolution itself became the action; the mind has concluded that this task is complete – successfully – and the intent, as well-intentioned as it may have been, was relegated to a desire. And what is a desire? A wish.

Unlike dreams, that are in and of themselves, subconscious actions we pursue, a wish is ultimately derived out of an expectation. And most often, the expectation is created out of an opinion made without adequate knowledge.

Resolutions are not dreams. Dreams we have. They are not made up decisions to do something. We dream to be slim(mer), to be muscular, to have six pack abs, to own a Mercedes, or to get married (and live happily ever after). The reason dreams — unlike resolutions — come true (or happen), is because they are pursued in the manner in which we live our lives… every, single, day.

Certainly, there are exceptions; people lose weight all the time based on a resolution, but chances are they made a goal out of it and pursued a sound plan of action to get there (join a gym, go to gym, confused so hire a trainer, change diet, learn to eat, etc).

Groups can have positive effects on people when it comes to overcoming challenges, especially when it comes to helping someone lose weight. Reinforcement here plays a tantamount role. However, it is still a decision made surrounding an event, a “new year,” with no solid basis — or plan — for completion other than to verbally share with friends and or co-workers. Furthermore, when most resolutions are made, they are done so collectively and this, according to researchers, is “problematic.”

New Year’s Eve. Everyone’s at the big party, drinking, dancing and having fun, and suddenly you realise: ‘Crap! I don’t have a resolution yet! Um… Um… Um… I wanna lose weight.’
There’s no plan, no strategy on how to do it, nothing. No wonder most fail.

Tanya

1:21 pm06/07/2011

Stefan, this is really enlightening. I agree, but not all resolutions fail.

Rona E

12:42 am06/07/2011

Addendum: While researching the origin of the word “resolution” I came across this tidbit. I find it interesting:

The word “resolution,” is a formal expression of one’s decision, but did you know the “re” was added to “solution” by the Romans to strengthen its meaning? Ironically, the prefix “re-” implies “backward” or “back” as in “return.”

So, then maybe resolutions don’t fail, they just end up being what is?